Shrutika Priyadarshinihttps://pshrutika.wordpress.com
Thoughts and Imagination have no limits !Fri, 08 Dec 2017 21:22:30 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngShrutika Priyadarshinihttps://pshrutika.wordpress.com
The Traveller ~ Backpacking From East to South of India!https://pshrutika.wordpress.com/2017/09/27/the-traveller-backpacking-from-east-to-south-of-india/
https://pshrutika.wordpress.com/2017/09/27/the-traveller-backpacking-from-east-to-south-of-india/#commentsWed, 27 Sep 2017 17:45:38 +0000http://pshrutika.wordpress.com/?p=1021]]>And I take off for my trip from EAST to SOUTH (The Peninsular India)

Has traveling been your priority to relive and feel good about life? Yes! For me, it has been one of a roller coaster ride which helps me skip the hustle bustle of the traffic and take a leap from the monotonous life. I like to keep my itchy feet going to all kind of places and be able to interact with the locals and know about different customs and cultures that India has got to offer to us.

The south of India is famous for the Hindu mythology and it is said, that a Hindu should definitely visit The Rameshwaram and The Kanyakumari atleast once in their lifetime. I too had planned my trip with my friends to the south, covering The Madurai, The Rameshwaram, The Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and The Varkala and The Kottayam in Kerala. I was basically leaving behind a close friend to have a gala time of my life with another lot of friends and I knew it was a much-needed one with the traveler keeda in my head. So, I reached Bangalore in the afternoon and met few of my college and office friends and by night we were all set for the journey ahead, waiting for the bus at the stop in the cold chilling night.

Our first destination was Madurai and we reached there early morning at around 7:00am by an AC deluxe bus which left from Bangalore at around 12:30am from Bommenhalli. We had got the bus booked through SRS travels. Upon reaching Madurai, we freshened up in a hotel and then left for the famous Meenakshi temple at around 10:15am. We got our passes of Rs 100 each in order to avoid the rush and the long queue inside the temple to get the darshan and the aarti. The temple has four entrance gates and they are all centrally located from each other. We had entered from the North gate. The temple is huge and is famous for its architectural design and interiors. I wish I could take the pics.of the interiors and of the fine work done by our ancestors.

The Meenakshi Temple

Next up on our visit list was Rameshwaram. We then rushed to the railway station and got our tickets booked for the very next train which was scheduled to depart at 12:40pm and we had just made it in time. (As far as I remember, there is a train which heads for the same even at around 4:30pm). The ticket was a nominal price of RS 35 per person. The 4 hr journey by the train was an amazing one and an experience which one should definitely experience as it crosses the famous Rameshwaram bridge and you can take a window seat or sit near the gate to enjoy the majestic view of the Indian ocean on one side and The Bay of Bengal on the other side. I was lost in my own thoughts as I watched the violent tides fight against those huge sturdy rocks which were like an obstacle in their motion. We had finally reached Rameshwaram and were kind of exhausted and keen on dumping our bags in the hotel room. After resting for about 2hrs, we stepped out to visit the famous Rameshwaram temple. We reached there at around 6:45pm and were told by the locals that the entrance to the temple is allowed only till 7pm. Upon hearing this and seeing a long queue outside the ticket counter, we realized that no matter what we did,we could not make it to the temple without going through our Jugaad and only way of catching hold of a priest who could help us get the tickets (Rs 25each) and charged an additional Rs 200 each for personally taking us to the 22kunds inside and showering the holy water of each upon us. These kunds are basically deep wells named behind Mahalaxmi, Savitri,Gayatri, Saraswati, Nal, Neel, Yamuna, Ganga, Bhramdosh, Sarvadham and so on ( could only remember these, and the story behind…U can all google ). I loved it when the water of each kund was poured upon me and the feeling of spirituality kept striking me harder and harder and frankly, at the same time I even felt embarrassed for knowing little about Indian mythology. After this, we changed to our dry and clean clothes and headed for the darshan of Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha. We headed out of the temple by 8:15pm . Outside the temple we could see lots of shops lined up with sea shells and souvenirs of all kinds. They were heavy on the pocket but worth getting them back home as a token and in memory of this holy place.

The Rameshwaram Beach @ night

We then headed to the Rameshwaram beach where it looked amazing beneath the moonlight. The view was just like a beautiful painting to capture it forever in the eyes. The place had a cool breeze passing by and we felt the chill of it. We were so lost in our own emptiness and at the sound of the waves hitting past the rocks and wondering how mighty the waves were and about nature’s creation, that we sat in continuity till 11:45pm and it was my very first experience at the beach where I sat in peace all by myself for hours and till almost midnight.We then headed back to the hotel room for a sound and cozy sleep as we had to leave for Dhanushkodi the next morning at around 6:30 am which was around 20kms. from the hotel i.e around 45mins. drive. We had booked a personal cab from here all the way till Kanyakumari (it cost us a total of Rs 5000, on a decent bargain)

The Dhanushkodi Beach

We had spent around 1 & a 1/2 hr at Dhanushkodi bridge and did some photo session at the famous spot which tops every travelers/tourists checklist- The Indian Ocean. It was a picturesque view and I wished I could spend more hours there but we still had miles to go before winding up the travel list. To head further to the old Dhanush Kodi point where one goes to get the view of Ram Setu bridge and the floating Ram stone.

The Floating Stone

This place was basically ruined by the cyclone that had taken place in the year 1964. One can now only get to see the ruins of the old post office, railway station, and church.

The ruins of the church

The entire village has been destroyed and there is no human settlement there.

Countable shopkeepers there selling souvenirs made of seashells

We had reached this point by booking a bus which had accommodated 12 people and had charged Rs 150 each for about 20mins. drive through the backwaters which headed to the Bay of Bengal.

The Bay of Bengal

We even visited the Ram Teerthan and Laxman Teerthan. From there we headed to the Pamban bridge and stopped by for some scenic captures and to especially capture the bridge.

The Pamban Bridge

The drive to Kanyakumari was a hectic one and had a stretch of about 5 hours. We even dozed off inside the car for an hr. We reached Kanyakumari at around 5pm or around and managed to dump our bags in a hotel from where the view of the sunset was amazing enough to keep you spellbound.

The sunset @ Kanyakumari

We then visited the Swami Vivekananda museum and read about his journey. Honestly, I found this place a boring one as museums aren’t my kind where I can keep my feet glued for hours but somehow had to hop in because my friends were so interested in it.

The Wandering Monk-Swami Vivekananda Museum

Headed ahead for a good dinner and then went for a stroll in the local marketplace which headed ahead to the Kanyakumari Beach which is located at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. Beauty oozes here in the form of soft golden sand that is overlapped by shimmering waters of the endless sea. We sat here from 8:30 pm right till 1am doing never endless talks, playing games and also sitting there in silence doing just nothing.We sat there for hours saying nothing but enjoying the music of the waves hitting past the rocks and going back and forth. The strong waves frequently striking the rocky shoreline of the beach was a sight to capture in the memory. The tides were at its peak and the mighty waves seemed to be hitting the rocks coming their way as a target.I literally wanted to dive into the mighty ocean, but, Life…Ahhh…and I wasn’t daring enough to turn my imagination into reality and nor was I a record holder swimmer to make it to such a stretch and survive such mighty tides. This night was the best night and I wish to go back there even today and live that moment….live that night to the fullest again…and enjoy the showers of the rain…

We finally headed back to our rooms for a good 3-4 hrs of sleep as we had to capture the sunrise at the Kanyakumari for which it really is famous. Tourists many a time, miss this sight which is a pleasure to the eye due to rainfall of cloudy days, but we did manage to capture it not just in the lens of the Camera but even our eyes. The sun came out for like a minute or 2 and then again hid behind the clouds. You have to really leave behind your lazy bump in order to get up early at around 5am in order to keep waiting to get a glimpse of the sunrise.

The sunrise @ Kanyakumari and within minutes it hid behind the clouds!

We even visited the Kanyakumari temple and the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. There is a ferry which takes you to the rock memorial and you have to get your tickets booked as per the suitable timing.

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial

Upon reaching there, they will give you a brief about the place and then you are free to enjoy the sight as its the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. I definitely can’t pen down the feeling of being at this place as words will fall short and even photos will fail to justify the natural beauty of it. You will even get the sight of the Thiruvalluvar statue (which back then, I guess was being renovated).

Thiruvalluvar statue

We left the place at 3pm after spending good 3 hours there and then headed for a content lunch.However, on our way back from the memorial to the main marketplace, we even took a glimpse of the Tsunami Monument.

Tsunami Monument

This was not the end of the trip, as we were still energetic enough to keep ourselves going. So, we headed for our final destination- Kerela.

Haridwar, the land of God is widely known for the Ganga Aarti being performed there. People from all over the world come there to perform the Ganga Aarti which is a prayer for the river Ganga at Har Ki Pauri Ghat.

I had also traveled all the way from Himachal to Haridwar to meet a school friend of mine. It was basically because of her parents that I had this lifetime opportunity of being a part of the ritual. People generally start coming early to get a good spot in order to get the view of the Puja being done by the Pundits there. However, in my case, my friend’s parents had got the platform or a particular spot at the ghat booked for me already in order to be able to perform the Puja and touch the idol of the river Ganga which is carried out in “Palkhi” by the Pundits and other people who are present on the platform of the ghat near the river Ganga. When I went there with my friend, I had my spot booked and a Pundit was there to attend me who would further chant the mantras and help me perform the rituals. He began chanting the Sanskrit mantras along with offerings such as cotton, colors, milk, honey, sugar, curd, ghee and some other things.

The Aarti being prepared with cotton, ghee, sugar, honey, milk and other things at the Paathh.

These are basically symbolic offerings so there is not large quantity but just small amount. During the Puja that I was performing as per the directions of the Pundit, I was in a complete spiritual mode. The aura was positive and I was in a peaceful and spiritual state of mind. I had captured the moment forever in my heart and soul. I had literally, never ever witnessed such a spiritual and organized Ganga Aarti and it was a moment to cherish. I literally owed my gratitude to Uncle & Aunty for making this happen to me and being able to experience it from so close.

At the Ghat during the Ganga Aarti…

Soon after this, the Pundits lit the Aartis and I could hear the Ganga Aarti song on the loudspeakers with the background music of bells. This spiritual song was just for 5 mins. during which I could see three or more pundits waving Aarti in front of the river Ganga. The entire crowd at the Ghat goes into a spiritual mode at that instant. It’s a moment when you forget about worldly things and all the chaos going on in your life and leave yourself to God.

The offerings being made to the river Ganga by the name of the person who performs the Puja.

This was a visit I made back in the year 2012 and hence couldn’t pen down the entire feeling that I had back then into exact words. But, I must suggest all of you reading this, that you should definitely witness the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri Ghat once in your life.

No one would ever leave this place untouched on their visit to Meghalaya~the land of clouds! The mind gets curious and at the same time eager to visit the cleanest village of Asia-as declared in 2003. One would keep wondering, what exactly sets it apart from the other villages and how the people and the place as a whole would be like.

I got the answers to my questions on my visit to this place. I witnessed the lifestyle of the people, their food, interacted with the locals, encountered their hospitality and also had a nice stroll in the village campus.

Picture taken from inside the car of the narrow lanes.

We entered the village at around 11 am with an adventurous and scenic ride through the narrow blindfold lanes, with huge standing tall paddy crops on either side of the lane. You need to drive really attentively and also honk to make the driver be aware who would be coming from the other end as the road is narrow.

The church at the entrance of the village

Do visit the church which is on the entrance of the village. Once I stepped inside the village, I was amazed by the vibrant atmosphere and the cleanliness of the place. They had small dustbins made up of bamboo placed at many locations and you could not see a bit of slime around the place.

The locals resided in tiny and cozy houses made up of bamboo and wood which gave a very artistic look to it. They rely on agriculture and tourism for their livelihood. They cultivate black pepper, paddy, pineapple and betel nut. The locals are very artistic and are skilled in their craft of making beautiful and useful things from wood and bamboo which can be bought as souvenirs from the place.

Pieces of Craftsmanship of the Khasi tribe which are worth buying.

Each one of them have their own small land for cultivation and are engaged in pig farming as pork is widely used in cooking and hens for poultry.

Hens within the boundary of the small land outside the local’s house.

Many varieties of flowers are also grown which add to the atmosphere with their vibrant colors and fragrance. With it being a women dominating place, another commendable thing that I acknowledged on my interaction with a local was that the property and wealth are passed on to the daughters from their mother for generations to come so that the surname of their mother is always remembered.

A pic. with the local with whom I had a knowledgeable interaction

It is worth a night’s stay at this village, although, I missed out on it but had a stomach full lunch there which included rice, daal, vegetable and chilly. The food was plain with not much spices added to it but still it suited my taste buds. Do buy some spices from there and bring it back home. The locals greeted us with warmth and were very hospitable.

The Mawlynnong village has maintained its tag of being the cleanest village in Asia till date and will continue to do so. The locals need to be applauded for every effort that they put in to maintain the hygiene of the place. I am sure, in the coming years, it would have more number of national and international tourists coming there for a visit.

A tourist taking a stroll in the vibrant campus of the village.

So, if you need to escape from the hustle bustle of your busy life, pack your bags and head to this village and spend few days under the hospitality of the locals.

Also, every thing here is very affordable and you will get it all at a shoe string budget.

Suggestions: Do not carry plastic bags or litter the place and also do not smoke once you are here. Let’s add on to their efforts of keeping the place and the atmosphere fresh and clean.

]]>https://pshrutika.wordpress.com/2017/04/10/mawlynnongasias-cleanest-village-the-visit-to-meghalaya-is-incomplete-if-this-goes-untouched/feed/2DSCN1685 - Copy-03pshrutikaDSCN1685 - Copy-03Photos of Mawlynnong~Asia's Cleanest Village! The visit to Meghalaya is incomplete if this goes untouched. 2/8 by pshrutikaPhotos of Mawlynnong~Asia's Cleanest Village! The visit to Meghalaya is incomplete if this goes untouched. 3/8 by pshrutikaPhotos of Mawlynnong~Asia's Cleanest Village! The visit to Meghalaya is incomplete if this goes untouched. 4/8 by pshrutikaPhotos of Mawlynnong~Asia's Cleanest Village! The visit to Meghalaya is incomplete if this goes untouched. 5/8 by pshrutikaPhotos of Mawlynnong~Asia's Cleanest Village! The visit to Meghalaya is incomplete if this goes untouched. 6/8 by pshrutikaPhotos of Mawlynnong~Asia's Cleanest Village! The visit to Meghalaya is incomplete if this goes untouched. 7/8 by pshrutikaPhotos of Mawlynnong~Asia's Cleanest Village! The visit to Meghalaya is incomplete if this goes untouched. 8/8 by pshrutikaThe Living Root Bridge~It is a sight to capture in your memories!https://pshrutika.wordpress.com/2017/04/08/the-living-root-bridgeit-is-a-sight-to-capture-in-your-memories/
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I had this as a top priority in my to do list on my visit to Mawlynnong~Asia’s cleanest village. The Living Root Bridge is approximately 2 kms ahead from Mawlynnong village and is a downhill walk through narrow steps from there.

Also, you will find tiny little bamboo huts on the way and many locals especially women being engaged in making brooms and stuffs from bamboo and wood and selling fruits and other beverages. The locals there are extremely hospitable.

The view on the way and the greenery adds to the beauty and gives an edge to the visit. While you keep walking down those narrow steps, you will be impatient so as to get the first sight of it.

On finally reaching there, you will be enthralled and taken aback by the sight it beholds to you.It was one of the most spectacular natural bridges that I have ever seen. The beauty of it is that it’s made by twisting the roots of gigantic trees that make a pathway across a stream,making it easy for the villagers and travelers like us easy to commute.

These bridges are a must see for all those who visit Meghalaya. These roots have been fashioned by the Khasi tribe people over generations. These roots slowly grow to form a cantilevered and intertwined mesh that is used as a bridge over waterways. There are many of these bridges which can only be reached by hiking through the forest for several hours. I however, chose to see the very first that comes along from the downhill trek from Mawlynnong.

This is a finest and one of the most appreciated nature’s structure where the involvement of man has made it a beauty and a sight of delight to everyone’s eyes!

Must Try: Do try the paanipuri (golgappe) and the chatpata fruit chaat that the locals sell. Your mouth will go watering with the first bite.

]]>https://pshrutika.wordpress.com/2017/04/08/the-living-root-bridgeit-is-a-sight-to-capture-in-your-memories/feed/7DSCN1782-01pshrutikaDSCN1779-01Photos of 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of 1/1 by pshrutikaThe Drunk House Cafe @ Rajouri (New Delhi)https://pshrutika.wordpress.com/2017/04/08/the-drunk-house-cafe-rajouri-new-delhi/
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The Drunk House Cafe is located at Vishal Enclave at Rajouri Garden and is easily accessible as its very close to the metro. This one can’t just go unnoticed among the various other outlets and joints that have embarked their presence already at Rajouri. It definitely is a must try.

It has a rusty look with dim lit lights and neon bulb hangings. A very vibrant place and their music collection is amazing. They have an indoor as well as an outdoor seating arrangement and in cool evenings, the outdoor seating is a must. It’s just mind blowing. Nothing can get better than enjoying your drinks and conversations along with good food, on an outdoor seating and breezy atmosphere.

I was here on a bloggers invite and I indeed relished every bit that we ordered. We initiated with starters and drinks and then headed to the main course.

Add to the day, we even tried their sheeshas and the pan and kiwi flavour was made just perfectly. To all party lovers, if you want to go out for a sheesha, this is a must to add to your party environment.

Last but not the least, came the desserts and my favourite was gems and chocolate pizza and chocolate walnut brownie with vanilla ice cream. The candy Putin bar was okayish for my taste buds.

I would have kept the order coming, had my stomach permitted me but was too full at the end of the day and not to miss out the point that I was highly content with their food and service. I would recommend it to all the foodies reading this, to stop by at The Drunk House atleast once.

I always thought of visiting this place as a kid since my school days. We knew it since then that Cherrapunji is known as the wettest place in the world. It fascinated me from distant apart and the images on Google displayed would even make me more adamant to make the trip happen for me.

Yes! I had to wait for years to finally get my itchy feet step into this wettest land but it did happen and in the best possible way. I packed my bags and with no plans made, landed to Guwahati as I had a local friend to take me to all places and honestly, no one can be a better guide than them. They had chalked down my entire itinerary for 5-6 days. However, Cherrapunji can easily be covered in 2 days.

I had landed in Guwahati on the 10th evening and decided to rest and spend the night there. We left for Shillong in the afternoon and had reached there within 3 hours enjoying the drive and stopping by for some picturesque views. You will find locals selling mulberries, cherries and other fruits and spicy chat pata food.

One thing noticeable was that in majority of the shops I could find women being engaged in the business (be it big or small).Maybe because of this it indeed is called as a women dominating place in India where the women take in-charge of not just the households but even for the source of income.

We reached Shillong at around 6pm and did shopping at the local market and malls in a hurry as shops here generally close by 7:30-8pm. I bought a few souvenirs for my friends and myself ( as a token and remembrance of my visit to this place).

The very next day early in the morning by 7:30 am we had left our hotel for the trip ahead to Cherrapunji . On the way ahead, you will enjoy the road trip and stop many times for a good capture and also pose alot many times to be clicked in the lovely weather which changes constantly from being sunny, to being extreme foggy and also witness rainfall.

The places which are must a visit are :

1) Mawsmai Cave:

Firstly, claustrophobic people should avoid going inside the cave as it’s really dark inside and you have to keep squeezing yourself and crawling as the way is extremely narrow and also you have to avoid being hit on the head by lower roof levels which are structures of limestone, some even being pointed.

The beauty of this nature’s creation is, that you have to keep exploring the way out of it once you enter and there is a light system which falls inside the cave very occasionally, however, you can use torches and cameras to capture the detailed rock formation inside the cave and study its structure (if interested). A complete work of nature indeed and hence Mawsmai Cave needs to be visited on your trip to Cherrapunji. You would definitely enjoy being lost in the darkness and if adventure is your kind, then enjoy exploring your way out !

2) Dainthlen Falls:

It’s located nearly 5 km from the city. You will be charged Rs 10/- per head for the entry which is a very small amount for the lovely view that you get here.Legend goes that the people of the land killed a big snake that lived in the cave nearby. The rock carvings seen here of the snake are said to represent the symbols of evil and greed. Being a soft waterfall, you may not hear the roaring sounds of water falling but still, the atmosphere is electric. The breathtaking views are a treat to your eyes. Right from the drive to the waterfalls in itself is a spectacular sight. However, be really careful in getting your feet close to the fall as it might get slippery during rainfall.

3) Seven Sister falls:

Meghalaya, is known for this high on beauty quotient waterfall and Seven Sister Fall is a view to capture in your memory more than in the lens of the camera. Monsoon is the best time to see all the seven falls side by side and the lush green surrounding and clouds above further add to the beauty. I however, missed out on seeing the falls and could rarely get the glimpse of it as the weather was extremely foggy and after about half an hour, had even started raining. So, if you are lucky enough you might end up getting a clear view of it or might just have a bad day like mine.

There is another waterfall on the side opposite to it. So, you can even sit there and hear the sound of the fall and enjoy your own company in peace.

4) Sa-I-mika resort:

We had headed to this resort for lunch which was homemade by the locals and besides that we even ended up staying overnight as the view from this resort is just top notch and mesmerizing. You can sit outdoors and enjoy the food in the cloudy weather and at times even see the sun play hide and seek from within the clouds. The place is lushy green and it’s huge and the rooms of the resort are comfortable and cozy although it’s a bit heavy on the pocket costing 2-3k for a night stay but for all nature lovers and travellers who want to silently sit down and enjoy peace, the view and good food all at one place-this is a must stay kind of a place.

You will leave this place with a content heart and a smile on your face (infact you would not want to leave it at all) and may even have some friends to accompany you to the gate and bid you a friendly goodbye ( we are animal lovers )

Also, on heading back from Cherrapunji to Shillong, don’t forget to make a visit to :

5) Risa Colony:

Make sure to visit “Derby Shullai”~a lady who makes the finest of wine from different varieties of fruits and she has a collection of around 30-35 different varieties. She is a very famous lady and is known for it even at the wine festival held there. My favourite was the “Shiong” made up of wild cherries. The bottle cost is around 500 bucks which is very reasonable as compared to the thousands you pay at top notch restaurants. Incase, you face difficulties in getting there, you can connect with me through your comments below or drop a message and I would be happy to share her contact details.

6) The Elephant Falls:

It has three falls. However, the third fall is the best and the biggest and you can stop by here for some good captures with the fall in the background.

Some photo enthusiasts can also capture the green algae floating beneath the water body.Be really careful in-order to capture them and avoid slipping.

7) The Catholic Church:

I have always had a deep connect with churches since had studied in a Convent since my childhood days. On the way back to Shillong, I happened to cross by the church. It drew me towards it like a magnet and in no second I was inside the church, attending the holy mass which is held on the Sundays at 6 in the evening.

Do attend the mass as its very soothing and pleasant. I had attended one such holy mass after years and I felt at peace and it gave me a heavenly feeling just sitting there.It felt as though I could connect to the Lord and speak to him just like a friend.

My stay at Cherrapunji was a lifetime experience which I am never going to forget. Anyday, if I would ever want to escape from the monotonous life and the hustle bustle of the traffic to a dreamland place, I would pack my bags for Cherrapunji, which has endless greenery, a lot of waterfalls and never ending fog. So, if you are thinking of escaping from your busy and monotonous life ,then get ready with your backpacks to experience how it feels to be driving through the clouds and practically, spending a day in the clouds and in the nature’s lap.

You can also connect with my local friends there who would help you with your itinerary for the same and also help you out with top notch restaurants where you can enjoy good sumptuous meals and places for night’s stay.

]]>https://pshrutika.wordpress.com/2017/04/06/cherrapunji-shillong-the-land-of-clouds/feed/0DSCN1152-01pshrutika4891100723_77b00a2423_b-01Photos of Shillong View Point, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of Cherrapunji‎, Meghalaya, India 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of Mawsmai Cave, Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya, India 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of Daiñthlen Falls, Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya, India 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of Seven Sisters Falls, Cherrapunji‎, Meghalaya, India 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of Saimika Resort, Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya, India 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of Risa Colony, Malki, Shillong, Meghalaya, India 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of Elephant Falls, Shillong, Meghalaya, India 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of Catholic Church, Shillong, Meghalaya, India 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of 1/1 by pshrutikaPhotos of 1/1 by pshrutikaNearbuy presents Top Chef Awards Delhi-NCR Season 3 at The Claridges, New Delhihttps://pshrutika.wordpress.com/2016/09/06/nearbuy-presents-top-chef-awards-delhi-ncr-season-3-at-the-claridges-new-delhi/
https://pshrutika.wordpress.com/2016/09/06/nearbuy-presents-top-chef-awards-delhi-ncr-season-3-at-the-claridges-new-delhi/#respondTue, 06 Sep 2016 16:14:31 +0000http://pshrutika.wordpress.com/?p=786]]>I was at The Claridges, a 5-star renowned luxury hotel for the invite of Top Chef Awards Delhi-NCR Season 3presented by Nearby.

The Top Chef Awards is the only one of its genre in Delhi-NCR to honour the people, especially young and emerging talent, behind popular and successful restaurants in the country’s most competitive dining out market. The nominees for the voting round of the Awards were shortlisted by an eminent jury consisting of industry leaders.

Jury members-Top Chef Awards 2016

The highlights from the evening included Chef Devender Bungla, Corporate Pastry Chef, Hyatt Regency Delhi, being conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award for an Exemplary Chef, while A.D. Singh, Managing Director, Olive Bar & Kitchen, was conferred the Excellence Award for Restaurateur of the year.Recognizing its incredible mark on Delhi’s culinary landscape, Dhaba at The Claridges New Delhi was awarded the Excellence Award for completing a glorious 30 years in the service of Delhi-NCR’s taste buds.

Ankur Warikoo, Founder & CEO, nearbuy, the online marketplace for online vendors, said that,even though it’s the first time Nearbuy has been associated with the Top Chef Awards, the awards were important as they recognize the individuals who are important to the success of restaurants and go directly to the chefs themselves which is a great way to recognize veterans and upcoming talent from the industry.”

Ankur Warikoo,Ceo of Nearby presents the Excellence award for Best Indian cuisine (Five star hotel) to Chef J.P.Singh, The Oberoi, Gurgaon

The Top Chef Awards Delhi-NCR Season 3 was presented by Nearbuy and co-presented by The Claridges New Delhi, Lite Bite Foods and Ballantine’s Music CDs. The glittering award ceremony held at The Claridges New Delhi witnessed winners in 18 categories.

For the first time ever, a live Butter Chicken cook-off was organised in association with Lite Bite Foods as a build-up to the award night, which saw Shiva Arora, Pullman New Delhi Aerocity, and Upinder from Masala House, Sunder Nagar, win respectively in the five-star and standalone restaurant categories.

Sharad Sachdeva, CEO, Lite Bite Foods, spoke on their association with Top Chef Awards and were glad to celebrate their third year with them.He stated that the jury members had a hard time picking the best from across the city as it definitely wasn’t an easy task.

The Excellence award for restaurant of the year, A.D.Singh, Olive Bar & Kitchen

These were the only awards that recognized chefs themselves purely on the strength of their talent in the kitchen. They are the heart and backbone of every restaurant.”

With the three successful seasons of Nearbuy presents Top Chef Awards, the patrons promised to continue recognizing chefs and the teams behind the scenes who are responsible for some of the best dining experiences around the city.

The Dhaba at The Claridges recieves The Excellence Award for completing 30 years

Post the award ceremony, was the dinner by The Claridges which has cuisines from all sections be it Indian, Thai, Chinese or European. The buffet was splendid and the table was full of mouth watering exotic and sumptuous dishes. It had black forest ham,milano salami,chicken & olive mortadella,red wine marinated chicken,smeared prawns,sausages, lamb chop scottadito, marinated cottage cheese steak, grilled seasonal vegetables, hakka noodles, dumplings,duck with cucumber & schezwan chilly oil,mutton biryani, moradabadi daal, lucknowi biryani,popcorn chicken,lots of options in salads and the list goes on…

Even the desserts section had loads of options to chose and pick and try them. The presentation of every dish was splendid and the chefs mastered them all with a class and style. They had chocolate truffle,macaroons,waffles,muffins,marshmallows,home made gelatos,basil pannacotta,seasame meringue, ice-creams of all flavours (beetle leaf and rose, was my favourite),vodka chuski with flavours of pan, kala khatta, mango,mint,etc, grand marnier chocolate bavaroise and lots other options.

I am sure the picture says it all and I wish I had a huge tummy to be able to taste each and every variety, but honestly, the range of desserts were very wide and they were all presented in a very artistic manner and looked very tempting.

They even had a great bar section which took care for both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic crowd varying from Red Wine, white wine,scotch,vodka,varieties of juices and soft drinks.The drinks were made keeping in mind the taste of the person concerned and was served chilled with loads of ice.

I indeed had a great evening and enjoyed every bit at The Clardiges,which is known for its ambience, flavours and service and is indeed a value for money. It has a dripping decor and the pool side gives a breath taking view and adds to the ambience.

One must definitely step in to The Claridges for a great stay and at the same to be a part of very fine dining.

I spent long good hours here and was too exhausted by the end of the day, but being a part of their fine dining compensated for it all.

I was here on a blogger’s invite to review their new edition to their menu and I must say, I left it being content.It’s situated on the first floor of “Select Citywalk” Saket, which is the heart for South Delhi wala’s like you and me for fine dining, cafe joints,shopping and the list goes on.

I was given a warm welcome by the Regional Head of Barista, MR. Rajiv Khurana and The Manager of the outlet Mr. Lokesh. They humbly introduced each of the new varieties that were worth exploring and even suggested me with their best cup of coffee, apt enough to suit my taste buds. In our conversation, he mentioned adding that they were coming up with “The Red Indian Food” option for their customers which would include varieties from the street food section, inorder to keep their customers engaged with them. It indeed is a good idea as I personally, crave for samosas and patties when I go to coffee joints (these days, all one comes across is pastries and sandwiches as desserts as the only option).

Each order that we had placed was presented to us in a very artistic matter and keeping our taste into consideration. In the coffee section- The Cappuccino and Espresso (hot Coffee)and Caramel and Americano Cold Coffee were personally my favourite and I must say they are worth a try for all coffee lovers. We also had Mango Lemonade and Green Apple Lemonade, which were decent. However they should add more of the mango pulp to it so, that one gets the taste of it right till he finishes his drink.

The Pan Mojito and Barista Frappe were very sumptous and tempting indeed and a must try for all who would like to pull out the chair at Barista outlet and enjoy their coffee for a pocket friendly deal which indeed is worth every penny.

From the section of Desserts- we had the taste of Dark temptation , Orange chocolate fantasy cake, Choco chip cookie, Orange velvet cake and Red velvet cake.Each picture is going to speak up for itself and they aren’t deceptive but are mouth watering for sure.

From the section of Quick bites and Wraps- The Vegetariano Puff and Lemon Paneer with whole wheat bread were worth a grap. The spicy cottage cheese wrap was okaish, as I personally am not too fond of cheese, however, my friends did like it.

Barista, is the best place to sip your coffee and enjoy conversations with friends or read a novel,spending some quality time within a pocket friendly deal and with no compromise on the quality.

I needed a break from the hustle bustle of the city life and also from the monotonous and stressful kind of life I was dug into. After a few days, I found myself with a backpack and the itch in my feet and the thrill in my soul making it to this amazing and definitely one of the unexplored places of Himachal Pradesh.

I along with two of my friends had left from Delhi by car in the evening and had reached Rampur at around 2 am. Here we had planned to stop by for a sound sleep and got up to the chilly day,viewing the mountains from the window and seeing the sun play hide and seek within the clouds. We explored the place a little, had lunch there and headed ahead to Kafnu via Wangtu.

The world’s one of the most deadliest roads (numerous dead ends and very prone to landslides)

Kafnu,is a tranquil village in the Bhabha valley of Kinnaur. Here, we reached by late evening and headed straight to the guest house. The managing staff was very friendly and had served us with hot and finger licking home made food. We had jumped onto our beds early as we knew that the much awaited trek for which we were thrilled about,had to be kicked off early that day.

The next day, we left the guest house by 6:30 am and could feel the chilly winds passing by us. Within minutes,our fingers were almost frozen and we knew, it wasn’t going to be an easy one. But, yes! we were mentally and physically prepared for this moderate to high level trek. We had to wait for a while for our trek guide “Shakti Bhaiya”,whom we had approached based on the referral of a friend. He is a very friendly and fun loving person and today, I owe him for making this trek a lifetime experience for me and making me reach back home safe and alive.

We had to buy a sleeping bag and mattress inorder to spend the night in a small forest guest house there at Mulling and also got some ration packed like daal, rice and flour along with packets of maggi and chocolates to survive the night. With alot of adrenaline rush & neurons exploding,we head out to Mulling which was about 12 Kms from Kafnu and at the altitude of about 3300 m. The view was spectacular and we had to trek through boulders of rocks for Kms (which made it a very tough call for the knees),through forest,streams,glaciers and meadows. We had come across coniferous trees and got the vista of the natural surroundings.

Coniferous trees and the forest that we crossed while trekking to Mulling

The trek is generally covered in 6 hrs but we did it in 4 good hrs.I literally, tapped my back for this, as the trek is suppose to be one of the most difficult treks in Himachal Pradesh that changes its landscape at every turn and throws forth challenges to trekkers.Hence it is recommended only for trekkers having prior experience of high altitude trekking with proper skills and proper kits especially shoes.

Enjoying the serenity after the accomplishment of the trekLying down on the meadows after a tiring trek

We however, reached Mulling and were so thrilled to witness God’s own creation that we just got lost in the moment.Our knees were hurting badly & we were exhausted and thirsty(for we had carried limited water bottles). There was no shop there or even home stays or guest houses but just one source to quench our thirst and that was the ice chilled stream running by. We filled our bottles with it, and quenched our thirst.We laid down on the meadows for hours enjoying the abode of nature,listening to neighing of horses, the gushing sound of the stream and birds chirping. It was a heavenly feeling to see the snow capped mountains and tall coniferous tress & above all finally accomplishing the trek. We didn’t realize when we had gone off to a sound sleep,lying down on the meadows when guide bhaiya came and woke us up and asked us to dumb our bagpacks in the small so called forest guest house which was being renovated then. It’s the only place to spend the night there before heading for Kara lake the next day. It’s just not possible to cover Kara lake the very same day as the trek is a tedious and challenging one.

Capturing the sun,the sky,the mountains,the land and the creatures, all in one frame

At night we sat by the small fireplace and interacted with the workers there who were toiling day in and out breaking rocks in the biting cold weather to renovate the place for making it worth a stay for trekkers like you and me in the future. They had even managed cooking dinner for us with the help of that small fireplace. At that moment,plain daal,rice and hard rotis with few green chilies as dinner were good enough for our taste buds. Despite wearing 2 cardigans and a pullover and being well tucked up inside my sleeping bag, I couldn’t manage getting a sound sleep due to the shivers I was getting.It was just too hard for me to escape the cold. Add to it, it became more worse as my mind was occupied with thoughts of ghosts because of the stories shared back then while having dinner by the workers and guide bhaiya. The place looked scary as it was the only hideout there with no electricity either. (Ahhh…it would be insane to even think of electricity at such an altitude).Back then,I really wanted time to fly by and see the rays of the sun.

The workers breaking rocks to renovate this small place

We got up the next morning at 6:00 am to head forth to Kara Lake which was 5kms ahead but seemed like eternity for me when I started it off, as my knees were hurting badly for I had strained them covering the stretch from Kafnu to Mulling in about 4 hrs(thanks to those boulders). We left without a nibble inorder to make it early to Kara lake so that we could trek down all the way to kafnu on the very same day.I had gathered alot of strength and pushed aside the pain of my knees and being a sportsperson, I din’t want to call it quit after making it so far and hence urged every cell in my body to be active and energetic to overcome all the challenges that would come ahead.

Kara Lake is at an altitude of about 3700 m and is a 3 hr trek from Mulling. We kept climbing through boulders and extremely narrow paths ( few inches extra and you would face death) and while trekking,I avoided looking back or at the depth as it took the hell out of me but at the same time I was feeling proud for having made it so far. After the strenuous trek we had a pleasant walk in the lap of green beautiful valleys with a river running beside it on the right side.

WOW! was the first word that struck our minds after reaching Kara Lake and the view was breath taking. The beauty of it will be captured not just in your eyes but even in your heart and soul for a lifetime. At the end, I felt relieved for having pushed my limits for such a thrilling experience and witnessing the creation of God. I was sitting in the lap of mother nature. It was calm, pleasant, serene and not just this but I found myself in an entirely different world. Our stomachs were growling for we had been only on water for these 3 hrs. We then sat down to have some snacks, captured the beauty in the lens of not just the camera but even our eyes and made sure to collect all the wrappers in a jute bag and dump it only in the dustbin upon reaching our guest house back at Kafnu.

The mesmerizing view at Kara Lake

We then headed our trek downwards to Kafnu at around 11:45 am and managed reaching back to Kafnu at around 5:30 pm after waving goodbye to our loving guide bhaiya at Katgaon. However,on my way back to Kafnu, my knees were soared up with pain and I could not lift my left leg much but had to limp around putting most of the weight on my right leg.

I even had a hard time crossing the glaciers as my legs no longer had the strength to make a firm grip on the snow and I kept slipping. However,I was given a helping hand by my friends and our guide bhaiya. At every point, where there was a glacier, he would wait for me, catch hold of my hand, keeping his grip strong and also making me believe in my capabilities that I could manage the next one on my own. I would literally get frozen from within on seeing them as my hurdle every now and then,for when you fear something, it shackles you from within.The fear of slipping down the glacier and get carried away by the cold ice currents would not make me move an inch ahead for I had already slipped on one of them and escaped death literally,due to the heroic act of our guide for having caught hold of my hand and making me feel safe.This is an experience I am never going to forget.

We had trekked a total of 22 kms that very day within almost 6 hrs and 35 kms in a day and a half. A trek which people complete it in 2 and a half to 3 days and with a bit of ease was accomplished by us in a day and a half but with dead legs and drained energy (which would be a little less if done in 3 days).

Kara Lake trek is not a commercialized one unlike other treks in Himachal which makes it one of the most difficult and raw treks. It’s one of the reasons why people rarely prefer going here as they aren’t really up to step out of their comfort zone. They have become too use to commercialized treks.

But, believe me friends, as much as u have Ladakh Leh, Spiti Valley, Rohtang Pass and other places in your must visit places in Himachal, you need to add this one too.It will be one of those treks which you will cherish for lifetime.

This trek, wasn’t just a break from the monotonous life but it also helped me believe in my capabilities,push my limits further and to accept challenges on the face of adversity. It helped me explore myself.

The Himalayan friend “Tobler “

Last but not the least,I would love to mention this Himalayan friend of mine who accompanied me almost the entire way while trekking down from Mulling to Kafnu. I wish I could get one all the way to Delhi with me but I guess it’s best to leave them in their natural habitat.

This is my story and today on Friendship’s Day, I turned back to the chapters of my life which can’t be erased and made better as they were and are the best.

Some relations are made in heaven and some you make by choice-Friends, are the ones we choose. We all believe in making quality friends, but what if you have quantity also. It’s and added bonus,right! But, with time you eventually filter them out of your friend list and stick by to the ones, who stuck by you in your hard times…

I am blessed with wonderful friends with golden hearts right from the day, I was sent to school. Yes! I was sent to a boarding school at the age of 6 and I cried for days missing my parents, my family. But, little did I know, that this small world where parents had admitted their kids from different parts of the world for their education would then become my second home and second family. A family of good friends, who cried together back then, shared chocolates , grew up listening to fairy tales of same kind, played together,shared notes, made trips and treks, stood by each other even then in times when we committed some crime (breaking school rules…)and also ended up talking about our periods and eventually ended up growing together sharing our aspirations and dreams.

We all grew up with innocent hearts and our minds were all clean, not polluted of the diplomatic world outside those walls and corridors. This basically, was the root of the good old childhood friends that I have earned today.

Friendship Day was a grand and big day for us back then. We would all exchange gifts, sit together and munch over some snacks,cut cakes and smash it on each other’s faces,gift each other with their favorite chocolates and exchange filled cards and posters. It was a way of expressing, how much one truly valued the bond they shared.

I had always been gifted with A box of Ferrero Rocher, which eventually became my favorite and I loved reading filled cards where every line depicted the honesty of feelings and words meant. That little world taught me the importance of words meant and promises kept. It taught me the meaning of true friendship-to be there through thick and thin by a friend’s side. Despite our quarrels, we knew that we had to get back to talking, as that was the family we had chosen.

Today, it’s been almost 10 years or more,that we have all drifted apart and have been occupied in the hustle bustle of our lives.

Ever leaving my second home, I thought I would never meet them again or would never be able to make such amazing friends ahead. But, I was wrong…I was lucky to always have a gem of a friend by my side and we would quarrel and abuse each other but I knew, I had to hang on to the friendship and not give up, as I grew up with this.

Today, people have moved on in their lives but I still stand at the same place in terms of my definition about friendship that I had learned. Some have changed after bitter experiences,some have become self centered but there are still some who call me from miles apart when I need them the most. Just that now, I miss their shoulder to cry upon or a tight hug that I could have got in their presence. I miss those filled cards now and sitting at eating joints smashing cakes on each other’s faces on occasions, the Ferrero Rocher chocolate (still being my favourite…although I can buy it myself, I avoid as even today I am use to it being gifted by a friend) and those bday bashes or placement celebrations.

We do have get together’s which is very rare but the heart deep down always wishes, that wish we still stood beside each other shoulder to shoulder and holding hands,going out for shopping together or a movie. But, I guess these small get together’s and trips that we plan are still enough to relive all those days. And honestly, this distance is what has now made me filter out my friend list and get the hang on to quality friends on whom I can truly invest each and every second of my life. They are the ones whom I meet after years but, still start our conversation from the point where we left, the ones with whom I am still comfortable going on bike rides or long car drives boozing, feeling the wind go past me, sitting at some eating joints starring some hot guy and doing endless madness.

Just the way you quarrel with your siblings at home, but still end up getting back to them.I believe-Friendship,is not any different, for it’s made by a personal choice, so why not stick by the odds even in it (just that, you shouldn’t be taken for granted…). This is what I learnt as a kid to not let go any good friend for a small quarrel, as the quarrel isn’t more important than the moments that you have lived with your friend. As kids, we never had ego, so why should we bring it now as grownups.

My definition of friendship maybe different but today, I stay blessed with these gems.

I hope you all will also share your stories and comment below with your take on the definition of friendship …!